A member of the Dutch Parliament has voiced support for including darts in the Olympics, backed by prominent figures in the sport. Jimme Nordkamp, a 29-year-old MP from Eastern Netherlands, is an avid darts player and advocates for recognizing the sport on the global stage. Nordkamp emphasized that darts has gained significant popularity in recent years, warranting its inclusion in the Olympics to acknowledge its status as a top-tier international competition.
Three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen, hailing from the Netherlands, expressed openness to the idea of darts becoming an Olympic sport, highlighting the sport’s professionalism and global appeal. Similarly, World No 2 player Luke Humphries supported the notion of darts in the Olympics, despite acknowledging potential challenges in achieving this goal due to insufficient momentum and support.
The potential inclusion of darts in the Olympics could position Great Britain as a strong contender for a gold medal, given the success of players like Luke Littler and Luke Humphries in major darts events. However, one obstacle to overcome is the organizational structure of darts, as the International Olympic Committee requires a single global governing body for sports in the games, a criterion currently not fully met by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
Recent years have seen the Olympics welcoming new sports, such as golf and Rugby 7s, showcasing the willingness to diversify the sporting events. The upcoming 2028 Los Angeles games will introduce American Flag Football and Squash, indicating a continued openness to expanding the Olympic sports portfolio.